The Academy Toronto
33 Davisville M4S 2Y9 Toronto, ON, Canada

Below is the revised schedule Effective October 5th 2020. Monday October 12th in observance of Thanksgiving there will be NO CLASSES and the gym will be closed. Also. ... WHITE GI reminder. Most of you know but for those that don’t ( I’ll be posting more reminders as we lead up to New years) January 1st 2021 all Judo and Jiujitsu classes will be mandatory white gi’s only. Any questions, please feel free to reach out. Dino ‘The Manager’

Attached is the new schedule effective for Monday 21st of September. We have added another jiujitsu class. 7:45 - 8:45pm class in the purple room on Monday and Wednesday. As we are starting to reach maximum capacity for scheduled classes we have commenced to ‘close’ some classes. ... We ‘close’ a class when we see it is Consistently filled with the same people in the same time slot reliably. This is Strictly a attendance based decision and is done with the consent of the classes members. This is better for Covid tracking (same 8 people in every class, every time) and easier because no bookings needed for said classes. If you are in a ‘closed class’ (you have been contacted by the sensei’s already) Just show up to your scheduled class. Our ultimate goal is to streamline the classes to give the best possible student experience in compliance with the current protocols. We will be adding More classes shortly to accommodate some returning members in their preferred time slots. That being said. If you are a ‘dormant’ member and are planning on returning don’t wait too long. I will prioritize dormant members who are returning over ‘new members’ but Once we reach Max capacity we WILL close classes and take no more members new or returning till the protocols allow us do so without a sacrifice in quality of programming. Please note, we will leave enough space in the schedule so if you and your partner want to ‘change slots’ we can accommodate. Also. Moving forward you MUST book 2 of a modality/sport every week. If you need to change classes please contact Sensei Ana to facilitate. Any questions give me a ring. Dino ‘The Manager’

At the age of 10 I started training at the Ono Judo & Jiu Jitsu Association in Sao Paulo, I never imagined that I would dedicate my entire life to martial arts, I grew up hearing from my Sensei teachings about how to be a good black belt, how to be a good teacher. In 1990, when I finally became a black belt, I looked at my students and wanted them to learn everything I learned and that's why I never stopped studying so that they could always have the best of me. Throughou...t my career as a black belt I had the opportunity to live and learn like many Senseis who helped me to improve as a student, teacher and as a person. And after 30 years of training, after having formed more than 100 black belts, I will never forget the words of my Sensei Sadao when he was giving me the red and white belt: Son, the white part of this belt is to remind you that one day you were once a white belt too, so be patient with your students and humble with everyone around you but know that the red part of this belt is to remind you that your journey is not over, that you must continue to seek knowledge and one day you will deserve the red belt. A black belt is a white belt that has not given up and that is why with that spirit of humility that my Sensei taught me I will always be with open arms to teach anyone who wants to learn, even if their first lesson is how to tie the belt. #higashi #theacademytoronto #judo #jiujitsu #behumble #whitebelt @theacademytoronto @higashigrupo

We opened 3 years ago this week. Happy anniversary to us. :) I remember It was a few days before our ‘grand’ opening 3 years ago. 3am in the morning we were between coats of paint drying at the original upstairs room at the Academy.... Myself and Sifu Justin were sitting outside on a park bench eating some pineapple we bought from the Hasty Market on the corner. Justin looks at me and he says. Do you think we can do this? And Im all: Oh yeah 100%. WE got this I had FAITH. It is worth noting Justin and I barely knew each other at this time. It may be hard to believe but up until Sensei Kraig put me and Justin on the ‘same team’. Justin didn’t ‘care for me’ so much. (putting it lightly) and I thought for sure all the jiujitsu Justin knew was from a prison release program. *cue montage of Justin hitting me with a blast double EVERYWHERE and I mean EVERYWHERE for like 3 years straight.* The following months were filled with more twists and turns then a Robert Ludlum novel. Sensei Kraig had to move back to Greece despite all best efforts to keep him. We struggled with our identity and membership. But as if scripted New friends came into our lives and replenished us when we needed them most. 2020 has NOT gone as any of us have planned but I am optimistic for our Academy. We have a team of Coaches, Students and supporters with a fierce resolve to endure the unexpected with Grace. Faith is not visible or tangible but when you are aware of its reach you can see it in all things. Dino ‘The Manager’

NEW schedule effective this Monday August 31st. We added 2 more BJJ classes. Monday and Wednesday 5:15 - 6:15pm And We added 2 more Judo classes. Tuesday and Thursday 5:15- 6:15pm... Don’t forget to book your spots. System resets Saturday at midnight. http://academyschedule.com/ We also grew this month. Yesterday we fully vacated the upstairs smaller training room and office and now inhabit the two Large rooms downstairs for programming. (fully matted) Judo and Jiujitsu will be in the ORANGE room. The ‘New Athena room’ It has lots of mirrors so Lets trying not to be hypnotized by your own reflections. Wrestling and kick boxing will be in the Purple room ‘New Ares room’ (seemed fitting) Major consideration was the mostly padded walls and proximity to gear. Our Academy office is now across the hall from the Orange room. As mentioned As we grow we will continue to add more classes as required. Its worth noting we were given the option to move at 3:00pm on Wednesday and at 3:05 we were moving mats. lol Thanks to EVERYONE you helped us in this record move. Special thanks to Sensei Ana, Sensei Jose, Sifu Justin and Cyrus and the brawny wrestlers for the ‘heavy lifting’ late last night. Still have a lot of ‘finishing touches’ to put on but its feels like home already. See you all next week . Dino ‘The Manager’